Webcam issues.
 

I'm at my wits end with this problem. My mother and I have windows live messenger with webcams, we both have Microsoft LX-3000 cameras. For some reason we keep getting hit or miss issues with sound / video etc. I CANT FIGURE IT OUT. We were originally able to use video calls and see AND hear each other, then it turned into we could see each other but I couldn't hear her. Now today she tried to give me a phone call on it (just audio) and I couldn't hear her, but she could hear me. Anyone have any idea how to fix this?

Side info:
She's in Maryland, we both have routers, I currently have a netgear router that sucks ass and can't port forward anything, she has a Linksys WRT54G. Even when i use my own WRT54G we had the same issue. I am running XP Pro, she's on XP MCE. She has two notebooks and both have the same issues listed above. Help!

bump: sadface, no one can help?

I know absolutely nothing about webcams, but from the description provided it sounds like a driver issue. Webcams have drivers, don't they?

Or maybe you could update your messenger install.

Maybe?

Re-install Messenger. We used to have these issues and we each had to install and reinstall several times before it cleared up. Couldn't tell you why. But it's been working without a hitch for about 6-8 months now.